Silver Lake

Silver Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. With clarity and phosphorus scored, the sub-grades cluster within a letter of each other, pointing to stable conditions rather than one specific stressor.

At a TSI of 63, Silver Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 47 ft puts Silver Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 71 acres, Silver Lake sits below the Minnesota median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Silver Lake ranks 37 of 49 in Ramsey County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Silver Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Silver Lake, one of 12 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Silver Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Ice-out has been recorded 8 times at Silver Lake, with a median around Apr 12. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.